Arrivederci Roma.

We took our last trip up to Rome a few weeks before we moved.  It was a great weekend and very bittersweet.  We wanted to go again in the hopes that JJ might be old enough to actually remember some of the amazing things on this last time in Rome.  It was a little rainy, but that didn't stop us from seeing all the main ancient sights.

The Trevi Fountain is under major construction right now.  We are very glad that this wasn't our first time seeing it or I would have cried!  Could you imagine if you waited your whole life to see this amazing fountain and you walked around the corner and saw this?!?!?!?  There wasn't even any water in it!!!

We joke that Owen and Preston have now been nursed in places that most Americans have never even been!

We did take some time to relax in the hotel : )

Random things in Rome : )

Monte Cassino.

We went up to Monte Cassino one of our last weekends in Italy.  Brian had been wanting to go there since we arrived, so we were glad that we finally went.  It's an abbey built and destroyed by war multiple times over the last few centuries and the most recent time was by the allies during WWII.  If you've seen Monuments Men, George Clooney makes reference to it : )  It is now a working monastery and was a gorgeous location on top of a very tall mountain.  It was a nice day.

We were there during their gregorian chant service, which was very neat!

The museum was full of ancient, beautiful artifacts and they also had books that were hundreds of years old.  

There was also a large Polish cemetery on the property.

1 month old.

Preston turned 1 month old on New Years Day.  He had a pretty exciting first month with some traveling, visitors, and lots of family time.  Naples also set off LOTS of fireworks to celebrate!!!  New Years Eve in Naples is unlike any other.  It starts about 11:59 pm and ends around 1 am with continuous fireworks.  We even had some fireworks of our own this year!  It was a bittersweet day knowing it would be our last New Years in Italy, but we had many things to look forward to.

Christmas.

We had our pack out on December 16, so Christmas was pretty sparse this year.  We had loaner furniture and only let the boys keep behind a few toys.  They each received a couple new presents for Christmas that kept them busy for a few days : )  We stayed in pajamas all day and just relaxed.  I'm sure it's our last relaxed holidays for many years to come!

My parents visit.

My parents came to visit us in Italy for the third time this winter.  They arrived right before Preston was born, so we didn't really get out much.  We spent most days either waiting for his arrival or enjoying having another newborn in the house : )  JJ and Owen loved having them there and kept them busy though.  It was great having them help out and we can't wait to live in the same city as them!  

We did take them on a day trip to Vietri though, where the boys ran around while we enjoyed a great lunch.

We also took them up to Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio.  JJ was sick for the first day we were there, so I stayed with him in the agriturismo while they went into Orvieto.  Luckily he felt better the next day so we could all spend time together.